OSHA Inspection: HERITAGE BUILDERS, INC.

Issued

Jan 18, 2012

Abate by

Feb 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,836 · Current $1,836

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.1051(a): Stairways or ladders were not provided at all personnel points of access where there was a break in elevation of 19 inches (48 cm) or more, and no ramp, runway, sloped embankment, or personnel hoist was provided:    (a)	Heritage Builders, Inc., @ 323 West Bleeker Street., Aspen, Colorado: On or before August 19, 2011, the employees were required to climb over a concrete wall 30 inches high at the main floor level to gain access to the extension ladder to reach the top floor of the house under construction. This condition exposed employees to the hazard of falling when ascending or descending an unsafe and high point of access.

Issued

Jan 18, 2012

Abate by

Feb 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $2,295

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.651(l):  Where employees or equipment were required or permitted to cross over excavations, the employer did not provide guardrail systems where walkways were 6 feet or more above lower levels to safe guard employee from fall hazards:    (a)	Heritage Builders, Inc., @ 323 West Bleeker Street, Aspen, CO.  On or before August 19, 2011, the employer did not ensure that guardrail systems were provided where employees were required or permitted to cross over excavations walkways.  The employees had been gaining access to the house under construction by using single planking walkways without guardrails installed. This condition exposed the employees to a fall hazard up to 11 feet platform to ground.

Issued

Jan 18, 2012

Abate by

Feb 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $2,295

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13):  Each employee engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet (1.8m) or more above lower levels was not protected by guardrail systems, safety net  system, personal fall arrest system (PFAS), or other approved alternative fall protection systems:    (a)	Heritage Builders, Inc., @ 323 West Bleeker Street., Aspen, Colorado: On or before August 19, 2011, the exposing employer did not ensure that fall protection systems were provided  while employees were engaged in residential construction activities 6 feet or more above lower levels.  Employees had been performing activities on all levels of the house under construction where open-sided floor(s) and unprotected window opening(s) had not been provided with guardrail systems to safeguard employees from falling from elevation. This condition exposed the employees to a fall hazard up to approximately 20 feet floor to ground.

Issued

Jan 18, 2012

Abate by

Feb 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $2,295

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.451(f)(3):  Scaffolds and scaffold components were not inspected for visible defects by a competent person before each work shift, and after any occurrence which could affect a scaffold's structural integrity:    (a)	Heritage Builders, Inc., @ 323 West Bleeker Street., Aspen, Colorado: On or before August 19, 2011, the employer did not ensure each fabricated frame mobile scaffold used by subcontractors employees performing framing activities had been inspected for visible defects and deemed safe to be used by a competent person knowledgeable on scaffold safety. The scaffold had the following deficiencies:    1 The mobile scaffold casters were not securely locked in place,     2 the caster locking pin was missing,     3 the top working platforms were not fully planked and lacked guardrails systems,     4 a cross and diagonal bracing was missing, and    5 the scaffold was not provided with proper ladder access.     An inspection shall be conducted before allowing employees to use the scaffold.  Without the competent person inspections employees were exposed to scaffold fall hazards of approximately 13 feet.     Abatement Note:  Abatement certification is required for this item (see enclosed "Certification of Corrective Action Worksheet").    Abatement Note:  Concerning the requirements and duties of a competent person:    (1)  "Competent person" means one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.    (2)  The competent person must be able to carry out the tasks specified in the standard. In order to be able to carry out the tasks the competent person needs to have knowledge in the issues relating to the strength and structural integrity of the scaffold. A competent person must be fully knowledgeable about erecting, disassembling, moving, operating,  repairing, maintaining and inspecting the scaffold.    (3)  Section 1926.454 states that a competent person will train employees involved in erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining, or inspecting a scaffold. To meet this requirement, a competent person must be fully knowledgeable about erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining and inspecting   the scaffold.

Issued

Jan 18, 2012

Abate by

Feb 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $1,836 · Current $1,836

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)(A):   Flexible cords and cables used for temporary wiring, which were subject to physical damage, were not protected:    (a)	Heritage Builders, Inc., @ 323 West Bleeker Street., Aspen, Colorado: On or before August 19, 2011, the employer did not ensure that the 120-volt, electrical extension cords, which were strung across a gravel roadway were protected from vehicular and construction equipment running over them. This condition exposed the employees to an electrical hazard.

Issued

Jan 18, 2012

Abate by

Feb 2, 2012

Penalty

Initial $2,295 · Current $2,295

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1926.20(b)(2): The employer did not initiate and maintain a safety program which provides for frequent and regular inspections of the jobsite, materials, and equipment to be made by a competent person:     (a)	Heritage Builders, Inc., @ 323 West Bleeker Street, Aspen, CO.  On or before August 19, 2011, the employer did not ensure that a competent person conducted an inspection(s) of the jobsite to ensure that a fall protection systems was utilized by employees to protect them from fall hazards.  As part of injury/accident prevention responsibilities, the employer did not follow its safety program to ensure employees use fall protection systems while conducting activities in all levels of the house under construction where open-sided floor(s) and unprotected window opening(s) had not been provided with guardrails systems or other suitable system to safeguard employees from falling from elevation 6 feet or more to a lower level. This condition exposed the employees to a fall hazard up to approximately 20 feet floor to ground.    Abatement note: The requirements and duties of a competent person are:    (1)	A competent person as one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has the authority to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.    (2)	The competent person must understand and be able to carry out the tasks specified in the OSHA standard.  The competent person must have knowledge about fall protection systems or plans, and the safety program.